The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-17

wisdom, looks down as il it was tn,
guardian spirit of the place. Her,
the Chief Justice does his work
Rising early, a cup Of coffee is brought
to his study, and with that mild stim
ulant alone, he applies himself closely
until his breakfast hour, ten o'clock
and, returning, does not generally
lea ye his desk until it is time to 20 ia
the Capitol to be present at the open.
ing Of the Supreme Court at noon.
Members OF the Supreme Court
and their families constitute the most
select circle Of Official society in
" ashipgton, and the social exactions
upon the Chief Justice are very
great. Scarcely an evening passes
during the fashionable season that
his presence is not demanded at re-
ception, or a dinner or a party, and
during the winter he gives a series Of
entertainments himself. These are
marked by cordial hospitality and
refined absence of display that are
more impressive than any extrava-
gance. 1t is 4 high social honor to
be a guest OF the Chief Justice.
The members Of the Suprsme Court
rank-if. indeed, there is such thing
as rank upon the bench-in the order
Of their appointment. Associate
Justice Samuel Il. Miller became a
member Of the court 10 1862, by the
appointment OF President Lincoln.
Few men have risen to eminence in
their professions so rapidly as Judge
Miller. He was thirty years old be-
fore he began the study OF law, hav-
ing in the meantime married and es-
tablished himself in the practice
OF medicine. A native of
Kentucky, born in 1916, his child.
hood spent upon a farm, where his
opportunities for securing a school
education were limited. A year or
two at an academy was followed by a
course OF study in the Office Of rela.
tive who Was a physician, graduation
from a medical college, and entry
upon a country practice ia which he
continued for eight years.
But his inclination, as we'll as his
talents, drew Mr.. Miller toward the
law, and in spite Of the family tina.
was dependent upon him, he turned
TO Blackstone's Commentaries, de-
voting his leisure time TO the mastery
OF their intricacies, while he sup.
ported his vile and children from
the earnings OF his medical practice.
Soon after his admission TO the bar
he left his old profession and launch
ed into law, meeting with almost
immediate success. From Ken.
lucky he went TO Keokuk, Iowa,
where he entered earnestly into the
political movements OF that then new
State. Always a Wing until the
formation OF the Republican party.
he was a most ardent admirer Of
Henry Clay, who, with Alexander
Hamilton, he still regards as one Of
the greatest statesmen America has
produced. Ia Keokuk he formed a
partnership with a Mr.. Reeves, and,
upon the latters death. retained the
large practice that the firm had built
up, subsequently becoming the hus.
band Of Mrs. Reeves, his 6rst wife
having died three years before.
When Mr.. Lincoln selected Mr..
Miller fora place upon the Supreme
bench, which became vacant in 1862,
he was already one Of the prominent
lawyers Of the West, although only
about dozen years had passed since
his admission 10 the bar; and so we'll
and favorably known was he 10
Washington that the Senate uuani.
mously confirmed his nomination on
the day on which il was received,
and without reference TO q commit.
tee, q compliment rarely paid TO a
man not previously member Of the
Senate.
While perhaps not so profoundly
learned in some departments Of the
law as several OF his colleagues, Jus.
tice Miller is distinguished among
American jurists for the quick.
ness and accuracy With which he
seizes upon the essential points OF an
involved controversy aud clears
away what Is immaierial or confusing.
His judgment is almost uuerring.
But IL is for the long series OF re.
able opinions upon consti.
tutional questions, written aud de.
livered during the past twenty-i0ur
years that Justice Miller is best
known. Ia their breadth. scope Of
argument and clearaess OF statement
they rank with those of Chief Jus.
tioe Marshall. To him was assigned
the duty OF preparing the first de-
cision OF the court involving the
thirteenth. fourteenth aud fifteenth
amendments TO the Constitution, aud
adopted by the court, his opinion
stands as one OF the few that may be
called anchors OF the government.
Justice Miller is not as methodical
iu his habits Of thought and work as
some Of his associates. lie gener-
ally makes his pen wait upon bis 10.
clination. but when he takes q seat
at bis desk he works with wonderful
rapidity, completing his task in the
least possible time. But this does
not prove an absence OF the most
careful research aud mature rehec
ton, Tor he frequently goes carefully
over the whole ground Of case, gets
his authorities and reaches the con.
illusions before he puts pen TO paper.
Then he writes his opinion very rap.
idly aud in bad hand.
A stranger 10 Washington to whom
one Of the Justices OF the Supreme
Court was pointed out on Pennsyl-
yania avenue, said no thought he
must be judge when he saw him.
They are generally pretty large, he
said, when they get on the Supreme
bench, and they ret bigger after they
sit, like hen on her eggs. Whether
u Is the sitting that makes them
large or the broodipg, or whether
they were OF the Plymouth Rock
breed TO begin with, | cannot say"
Justice Miller contributes his share
10 the ayoirdupois Of the court.
Though Of middle hight, his form is
we'll filed aud he SURPRISES in ply.
aieal vi Vor many n vauny.t man He